7.4 quake shakes south Mexico, rattles capital

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A woman comforts her children outside a school at the Roma neighborhood after a earthquake felt in Mexico City Tuesday March 20, 2012. A strong, long earthquake with epicenter in Guerrero state shook central southern Mexico on Tuesday, swaying buildings in Mexico City and sending frightened workers and residents into the streets..(AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)

March 20, 2012 4:01:26 PM PDT

KATHERINE CORCORAN Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - March 20, 2012 --

A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit central and southern Mexico on Tuesday, damaging some 800 homes near the epicenter and swaying tall buildings and spreading fear and panic hundreds of miles away in the capital of Mexico City.